Heel-trimming machine



No. 65,880. Patented Dec. 13,.'1393.

A. McnowE'LL.

HEEL TRIIMMNG MACHINE.

(Appncazion mea one, 19, 159e.)

No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l.

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No. 6|5,880. Patented Dec. I3, |898.

A. McnbwELL.

HEEL TBIMMING MACHINE.

v (Application led Oct. 19, 18969. (No Model.) 4. Shae'ts-Sheei 2.

TH: Nonms PETERS co.. PMo'ro-Lnno., wAsmNG'rcN. u. r.

No. 65.880. Patented Dec. I3, |898.

A. MCDWELL.

HEEL TRIMMING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 19, 1896.\

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model TH: Nonms PETERS co. RHUTLLLITHO.. wAsNsNGTuN, D. c.

Patented nee. is, |898.

A. MGDUWELL.

HEEL TRIMMING MACHINE.

(Application filed Oct. 19. 1898.`\

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

Mun/mz corneys.

V:Ms-nofws Plains-cu rwnoromruo.. WASHINGTON. u. c.

LUNITED STATES."

PATENT EEICE.

`ALEXANDER MCDOVELL, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

HEEL-TRINIMING MACHINE.

ISIEECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.1615,880, dated'December 13, 1898.

Application fled October 19, 1896. Serial No. 609,279. (No model.)

T0 all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER McDow- ELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain `new and useful Improvements in Heel-Trimming Mechanism, of which the following isa specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

It is customary to provide a machine for trimming the heels of boots and shoes with a fixed heel-rest whichv is located adjacent to the rotating cutter of such machine and which serves to support and guide the heel as it is presented to the action of the cutter; While the heel is resting on 4this support, the shoe is turned by the Workman, so as to present every portion of the edge of the heel to the action of the cutter. It is customary to begin the trimming at the back of the heel at the central point thereof, rst presenting this point to the cutter and then partially rotating the shoe, so as to work around one side of the heel to the forward end of the said side, the movement of the heel then being reversed, so as to present the other side of the heel to the action of the cutter. It usually happens that the workman swings the shoe, so as to carry the' same portions of the heel several times in succession within the range of action of the cutter. The distance of the fixed rest aforesaid below the axis of the cutter is substantially half ythe, width of the heel, so that when one side of the heel is resting upon the said fixed support, the shoe being held in a horizontal position, the central point at the rear of the heel will be presented on the center ofthe cutter, as it is termed-that is to say, will be presented to the cutter substantially in the same horizontal line as the axis of the cutter. When viewed in plan, the rear part of a heel appears as formed with a more or less close approximationl to a circular.

curve; but in the direction of the length of the shoe the heel usually is considerably elongated. It follows thatl whereas in turning the shoe from the position just mentioned in either direction, up or down, so as to present `to the action of the cutter the sides of the heel for a certain distance along either side, the portions on the said sides which come successively within the range of the action of the cutter are presented approximately on the center of the latter. The forward portions of the sides cannot be brought against the cutter except by turning the shoe forwardly in an inclined position over the cutter or by raising the shoe into a substantially vertical direction, and thereby lifting it clean off the rest.

There are various disadvantages and objections incident to the foregoing which are familiar to those who are skilled in the art. One of these disadvantages and objections is the fact that when the shoe is turned forward into an inclined position above the cutter the point at which the trimming is being effected is concealed from view, and hence the progress of the work cannot be observed. A second disadvantage or objection arises from the fact that commonly the counterguard which is employed in connection with the cutter is larger in diameter than the latter, and it will be obvious that although, as is well known, the cutter and the countervguard are so disposed as to be tangential atl the intersection of a horizontal line passing through the center of the cutter the periphery of the counter-guarddiverges outwardly beyond lthe periphery of the cutter both above and below the center. From this it follows that when the shoe is inclined forwardly above the cutter, as mentioned hereinabove, the portion of the heel which is brought within the range of the cutter becomes progressively higher and higher, and in consequence of the outward divergence between the periphery of the counterguard and the periphery of the cutter more and more pressure must be brought to bear against the shoe in order to force the edge of the counter-guard into the space between the counter and the heel-seat and bring the surface of the heel within reach of the cutter. This divergence operates to prevent the forward quarters of the heel from being trimmed perfectly, inasmuch as it prevents the heel from being carried as closely in to the cutter as is possible. In being lifted from the fixed rest aforesaid and carried vertically by hand past the cutter the whole support and guidance of the shoe devolves upon the hands of the operator, from which results IOO more or less unsteadiness and variability of trimming.

One object of my invention is to combine with the rest by means of which the shoe is sustained while being acted upon by the heeltrimming cutter means by which the said rest shall be varied in position automatically as the shoe is turned in presenting the successive portions of the heel thereof to the action of the cutter and whereby also as each point in succession comes into position to be trimmed it shall be presented to the cutter on or substantially on the center of the latter. In substance the said means operates by communicating an up-and-down or vertical movement to the said rest, the rest being caused to assume an intermediate position when the rear portions of the heel are being presented to the action of the cutter, itslowest position when the toe of the shoe is turned upwardly, and its highest position when the toe of the shoe is turned downwardly. With my said invention it becomes unnecessary to incline the shoe past a vertical position or to raise the heel of the shoe off the heel-rest.

A second object of my invention is to provide for the trimming of the heels of springheel shoes. Considerable difficulty com monly is experienced in practice in trimming the heels of spring-heel shoes. Asis well known, the heel portion of such a shoe is produced by inserting one or more lifts between the rear end of the sole and the heel-seat or between the sole and the counter. The transition from the shank to the tread portion of the heel is inclining or sloping and there does not exist the square front end which forms a feature of other kinds of heels. A heel thus formed usually is quite low. It has been found impracticable heretofore to utilize a rest in the trim ming of spring-heels. When it has been sought to employ a rest, it has occurred either that in turning the toe of the shoe downwardly as the shoe approaches a vertical position the inclined portion at the front of the heel would slip off the rest or that the projecting front end of the rest would contact with the edge of the shank portion of the sole. In either case the completion of the work of trimming the heel would be interfered with. Should the heel slip off the rest, as mentioned above, the shape or tlare thereof wouldbe irregular. Should the end of the rest strike against the shank portion of the sole, the remainder of the heel could not be trimmed. Hence in practice it has been customary to dispense with the rest altogether in trimming spring-heels and to hold and present the heel to the cutterentirely by hand. In my invention I employ a horizontally-movable yielding rest which is firm and rigid to uphold the heel vertically, but

which, as the toe of the shoe is turned downwardly, is caused by the pressure of the inclined front portion of the heel or of the shank portion of the shoe to recede laterally, leaving the shoe free to be turned throughvfound diiiicult, ordinarily, when holding a heel up to the action of the cutter and in trimming the rear portion and sides thereof to prevent irregular lateral movements or swaying of the boot or shoe. As will be obvious, such movements tend to vary more or less injuriously the flare or inclination of the edge of the heel as produced by the cutter. My improved tread-rest or gage enables me to secure perfect steadiness of the shoe and guards against the objectionable results above mentioned. Furthermore, as is well known to those who are skilled in the art, heels ordinarily have applied to the same a top lift which is died out to the shape which it is desired that the same shall retain. In the machines by means of which ordinary heels are trimmed there are employed in connection with the cutter a counter guard to bear against as well as protect the counter from the action of the cutter and a top-lift guard which bears against the edge of the top lift. The top lift constitutes, as it were, a guide, pattern, or templet, and in consequence of the engagement of the top-lift guard with the edge of the top lift the shape to which the heel is cut is determined. In the case of spring-heels there is no top lift employed and such heels are trimmed from the counter as a pattern. rThere being no top lift, there is nothing to guide in giving the flare 'to such heels; and it heretofore has been the necessary custom to trim by the eye, or, in other words, for the operator to depend upon his skill and judgment in giving shape to the heel. This feature of my invention provides means by which to secure the required shaping of spring-heels, and through the use of the same greater certainty and regularity are secured. The said tread-rest or gage is backed up with a spring, so as to render the same laterally yielding. When a heel is pressed into contact with the said tread-rest or gage, the spring gives and allows the tread-rest or gage to move laterally until the edge of the counter-guard has entered properly into the openin g or space between the counter and the heel-seat. The contact of the tread portion 'of the heel with the tread-rest or gage prevents any rocking of the shoe such as would occasion irregularity in the shape which is given to the edge of the heel, thus enabling the workman to preserve uniformity in the fiare of the said edge. The said tread-rest or gage is mounted, so as to enable it to be given a greater or less angle of inclination with reference to the cutter, whereby provision is made for varying to the required ex- IOO IIO

ltlent the flare to be given to the edge of the eel.

The invention will be described iirst with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated the best embodiment thereof which I have yet contrived, and afterward the distinguishing characteristics thereof will be particularly pointed out and distinctly defined in the claims at the close of this specification.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a view in front elevation of a heel-trimming mechanism embodying one form ofthe invention, certain small portions thereof being removed for clearness and the arm of the jack bein g broken away to shorten the length thereof. Fig. 2 is a View in elevation from the right-hand side in Fig. 1, the jack being omitted. Fig. 3 is a view in plan showing a shoe in position to have the heel thereof trimmed. Fig. 4 is a View showing in front elevation the heel-rest and tread-rest together with their sliding support. Fig. 5 is a view thereof in plan. Fig. 6 is a view thereof in elevation looking from the right-hand side in Fig. 4. 1

l designates the frame of the mechanism; 2, a shaft mounted in a bearing 121, which is provided on the said frame; 3, the cutter, which is carried by the said shaft; 4, the counter guard or shield, and 5 the support for the counter guard or shield. All of the foregoing parts are or may be as usual'or as desired and may be of any suitable and convenient character, construction, form, and arrangement, as may be deemed best by the manufacturer or as may be required for the purposes for which the mechanism is employed.

At 6 is shown the heel-rest. The said heelrest is attached to and carried by a slide 7, which is supported by and moves vertically upon a slideway 8, the latter being supported on the fixed framework of the machine. The slide 7 is formed with a rack 9.

10 is a pinion, the teeth of which engage the rack 9. This pinion is fixed upon the forward end of a short shaft 11, which is mounted in a bearing in the slideway Sand has affixed to its rear end an arm 12. This arm is perforated lengthwise, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, to receive a pin or rod 13, having attached to one end thereof a plate or block 14. To the said plate or block 14 is pivoted, as at 15, an arm 16. The latter may be in one piece, butpreferably is made in two pieces capable of movement the one upon the other, so as to enable the length of the arm to be varied,as required to suit the lengths of different sizes of shoes. Thus in Fig. 3 the outer end of the arm 16 is constituted by a second piece 161.

17 171 are loops applied to the two members of the arm to hold the said members together, and 18 is a clamping-screw by means of which to affix the loop 171 to the piece 161.

19 is a cap-piece which is attached to the outer end of the portion 161 of the arm 16 to receive the toe portion of a boot or shoe 20.

center, so to speak, of the cutter.

The described construction enables the length of the Varm 16 to be adjusted so that the toe-piece may be iitted upon the toe of a boot or shoe of any length having its heel rested u'pon the rest 6 and pressed by the workman, so that the edge of the heel shall be subjected to the action of the cutter 3. In order to add to the range of adjustment, the pin 13 is made capable of sliding longitudinally within the'hole that is formed lengthwise of the arm 12, and the said pin is engaged by a clamping-screw 21, by means of which the parts are held in the desired position of adjustment. The adjustment of the pin 13 within the arm 12 provides for variation from substantially one extreme to substantially the other extreme of the extent of adjustment possible, while the adjustment of the portion 161 upon the main portion of the arm 16 permits of the adjustment that is required in varying from one size to the next, dto., and enables the toe-piece to be slipped on and off the toe of a boot or shoe which is being operated upon. The toe of the boot or shoe 2O having had applied to it the toe-piece or cap-piece 19 of the jack and the heel thereof having been placed upon the heel-rest 6, the turning movement which is communicated by the workman to the said boot or shoe in order to present successive portions of the heel to the action of the cutter'swings the jack upward and downward and in so doing automatically effects a' change of position or adjustment of the heel-rest 6,which varies its height with reference to the cutter, so as that at all times that portion of the edge of the heel which is in course of being trimmed is maintained automatically on the horizontal This renders it wholly unnecessary to turn the shoe so far as to carry it into an inclined position above the cutter in trimming the forward quarter of the heel on one side of the latter,

and it also renders it unnecessary when trim-v ming the corresponding quarter of the other side of the heel to raise the heel vertically off the heel-rest. At all times the heel rests in contact with the heel-rest, andv the vertical movement of the latter renders it unnecessary to carry the toe portion of the boot or shoe at any time beyond a vertical position. In order to provide a heel-rest which may be utilized in the trimming of spring-heels, I form and arrange the heel-rest 6 substantially as shown in the drawings-that is to say, the forward edge of the said heel-rest is made laterally inclined or sloping, as at 6l, andthe heel-rest is extended toward the left, as clearly shown at Fig. 1, and pivoted, as at 62, upon an arm 63, which projects from the slide 7. The said heel-rest 6 is acted upon by a spring 64, one end of which engages with the tail of the heel-rest, as shown in Fig. 1. The other end of the spring is engaged with a pin 65 upon a collar 66, that is mounted upon the rounded outer end of the` said arm 63, the said collar being provided with a clamping- IOO screw G7 b'y means of which to secure it in place upon the said arm. By the rotative adjustment of the said collar the desired tension of the spring may be secured.

GS is a stop-pin carried by the heel-rest and engaging with the arm 63 to limit the outward movement of the heel-rest under the action of the spring 64. The spring 64 operates to hold the heel-rest normally in the position in which it is represented in the drawings, so that it acts in all respects, save as hereinafter indicated in treating of spring-heels, in the same manner as does the fixed rest which customarily is employed in heel-trim ming mechanisms. However, when trimming springheels the laterally-yielding capacity of the heel-rest is utilized as follows:

Vhen in the process of trimming a springheel the toe of the shoe is turned downwardly, either the shank portion of the shoe or the inclined portion which exists at the front of the heel strikes against the oblique or inclined edge 6l of the heel-rest, and thus acts to wedge or force back laterally the heel'rest into a retracted position, the heel-rest giving way or receding horizontally as the shoe more closely approaches the vertical position. In this way the heel-rest is prevented from constituting an obstacle which by coming in contact with the edge of the shank portion of the shoe or with the edge of the inclined portion aforesaid would operate to prevent the shoe from being completely turned into its vertical position. Having thus yielded, the heel-rest no longer tends to interfere with the completion of the work of trimming the heel, and thus the trimming of the final quarter of the heel adjacent to the shank portion is proceeded with. Furthermore, the heel-rest being out of the way the shoe no longer is subject to lateral deflection, as hereinbefore explained, and hence in trimming the said final quarter of the heel it remains simply for the workman to raise the shoe vertically past the cutter in the manner which has been practiced heretofoie--that is to say, he will thus raise it in case the automatic means which I already have described for moving the heelrest vertically is not employed; but if the said automatic means is employed the said means will itself effect or occasion the vertical movement referred to.

22 is the tread-rest or gage, to which reference has been made hereinbefore. The said tread-rest or gage herein is constituted for convenience of a slightly concaved disk. This disk is fixed upon the short spindle 23, the latter being fitted to a bearing 24, that is provided with a depending pin 25, the latter being received in a hole or socket that is provided to receive the same in the arm-26, projecting from the slide 7. The spindle 23 may rotate in bearing 24, although this is not essential to my invention. A clamping-screw 27, applied to the said arm 26, engages with the pin 25 and serves to hold the same in any desired position of vertical adjustment. This construction gives the disk capacity for vertical adjustment, so as to enable the center of the same to be placed at a distance above the heel-rest 6, which is suitable to the diameter of the heels which are to be trimmed. The spindle 23 is free to move longitudinally through the bearing 24, and it is surrounded by a spiral sprin g 231, which is located thereon between the back of the disk and the adjacent side of the bearing 24. This spring holds the disk pressed forward in front of one end of the cutter, but enables it to yield when the tread portion or top lift of the heel of a shoe is forced against the saine, thereby enabling the heel to be moved laterally across the face of the cutter until the edge of the counter-guard has found its way into the crease or opening between the counter and the heel-seat. This tread-rest or gage 22 serves to steady the boot or shoe and obviates the irregular lateral movements or swaying of the boot or shoe which are likely to lbe unintentionally and accidentally communicated thereto by the workman. In practice the tread of the shoe is capable of freely partaking of such movement across the face of the tread-rest or gage 22 as may be necessary in presenting all portions of the heel to the cutter for the purpose of being trimmed. The depending pin 25 is rotatable in the hole which it fits in the arm 2G, and this enables the tread-rest or gage to be placed in au inclined position as well as enables the degree of inclination to be varied as much as may be required. As will be obvious, this inclination of the tread-rest or gage provides for holding the heel of a boot or shoe at whatA ever angle with reference to the axis of the cutter may be required in order to give the desired flare to the edge of the heel by the use of the said tread-rest or gage. V'Vhen the tread-rest or gage is positioned at the requisite angle with reference to the axis of the cutter, the shaping of the edge of the heel, with the required flare around the whole extent of the heel, is effected with certainty. As will be observed, the swinging heel-rest is located `below the tread-rest or gage, and when acted upon by the shank of a shoe the horizontal movement of the heel-rest carries it out of the way Without any obstruction being experienced from the presence of the tread-rest or gage. Inasmuch as both rests are carried by the slide 7, the relative positions of these two parts with respect to each other remain unchanged in consequence of the vertical movements of the slide 7.

I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to the particular form, construction, and arrangement of devices which I have herein illustrated and described, inasmuch as various changes may be made therein Without departure from the spirit of my invention.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination with the cutter, of a 'IOO heel-rest, a jack to engage a shoe, which shoe has its heel placed against said heel-rest, said jack remaining in continuous engagement with the shoe throughout the entire swing of the latter, and connections between said jack and heel-rest to move the heel-rest toward and from the cutter as the jack is swung, substantially as described. Y

2. The combination with a cutter, of a heelrest, a jack to engage a shoe, which shoe has its heel placed against said heel-rest, said jack remaining in continuous engagement with the shoe throughout the entire swing of the latter, and a rack and pinion between the said heel-rest and jack to move the heel-rest toward and from the cutter as the jack is swung, substantially as` described.

3. The combination with a` cutter, of a heelrest adjacent to the ame, a tread-rest also adjacent to the said cutter, a support for the said heel-rest and tread-rest, a jack device to engage with a boot or shoe which is applied to the said rests and subjected to the action of the cutter, and means intermediate the said support and the jack device whereby to transmit movement to the said support and the parts which are carried thereby relatively to the cutter as the boot or shoe is .swung by the workman, substantially as described.

t. The combination with a cutter, of a heelrest adjacent to the same, a jack device to engage with a boot or shoe which has its heel placed against the said heel-rest and exposed to the action of said cutter, said jack device comprising essentially a cap-piece to receive the toe of a boot or shoe and an extensible or telescoping arm to the sliding part of which the said cappiece is connected, and means intermediate the said jack device and the said heel-rest whereby to transmit movement to the heel-rest relatively to the cutter as the boot or shoe is swung by the workman, substantially as described.

In a machine for trimming spring-heels, the combination with the cutter, and the tread-rest or gage located adjacent to the same receiving against its face the tread-surface at the heel of a shoe to determine the Hare or inclination given by the cutter to the edge of the heel and adjustable to determine the Iinclination given by the cutter to the edge of the heel carried by the said tread-rest, of the laterally-yielding heel-rest below said treadrest or gage, normally standing in working position adjacent to the said cutter, and mounted to swing horizontally and to pass below the said tread-rest or gage when pressed laterally away from its normal position by contact of the shank portion of a shoe therewith, substantially as described.

G. The combination with the cutter, of a laterally-yielding heel-rest 6 normally occu pyin g a working position relatively to the said cutter, a movable support for the said heelrest, a jack device to engage with a boot or shoe having its heel against the heel-rest and exposed to the action of the said cutter, and ineans intermediate the said jack device and the support for the said heel-rest, whereby to transmit movement to the said heel-rest as the boot or shoe is swung into different positions by the operative, substantially as described. y

7. The combination with the cutter, of the heel-rest 6 provided with the inclined forward end, a spring by means of which to hold the said rest normally in working position but allow it to yield laterally with reference to the cutter, a movable support for the said heel-rest, a rack connected with the said support, a pinion engaging the said rack, anda jack device operatively connected with the said pinion and adapted to engage with a boot or shoe having its heel against the said heelrest and exposed to the action of the cutter, whereby to occasion movement of the heelrest relatively to the cutter as the boot or shoe is swung by the operative, substantially as described.

8. In a machine for trimming spring-heels, the combination with a cutter, and a heel-rest adjacent thereto, of a tread-rest or gage, as 22, to receive against its face the tread-surface of the heel of a shoe resting on the said heel-rest and operating to determine the flare or inclination given by the cutter to the edge of the heel, the said tread-rest or gage acting to position and steady the heel laterally with relation to the cutter, and having the face thereof `constructed to permit free movement of the said tread across the said face as required in the working, substantially as de scribed.

9. In a machine for trimming spring-heels, the combination with the cutter, of a treadrest or gage, as 22, located adjacent thereto and adapted to receive against its face the tread-surface of a heel, the said tread-rest or gage operating to determine the flare or inclination given by the cutter to the edge of the heel, and to position and steady the said heel laterally with relation to the cutter, and a mounting for the said tread-rest or gage provided with means of adjustment to tix the tread-rest or gage at the desired inclination relatively to the axis of the cutter and enable the said inclination to be varied, substantially as described.

10. In a machine for trimming spring-heels, the combination with the cutter, and a shield or guard, as 4, employed in connection there with, of a tread-rest or gage, as 22, to receive against its tace the tread-surface of a heel bcing subjected to the action of the cutter, the said tread-rest or gage operating to determine the flare or inclination given by the cutter to the edge ofthe heel, and to position and steady the heel laterally with relation to the cutter, the said tread-rest or gage having the face thereof constructed to permit free movement ot the said tread across the said face 'as required in the working, and a spring acting upon the said tread-rest or gage and arranged to yield against the lateral pressure which is applied through the heel until the lip of the IDG said guard seats itself in the crease between the counter and the heel-seat, substantially as described.

1l. The combination with the cutter of the rotatable disk 22 located adjacent to the said cutter to receive against the face thereof the pressure of the tread portion of the heel of a boot or shoe, and a support for the said disk provided with means to adjust the same to vary the inclination of the disk relatively to the axis of the cutter, substantially as described.

12. The combination with a cutter, of a tread-rest or gage adjacent to the same, a support for the said tread-rest or gage having means to enable the inclination of the treadrest or gage relatively to the axis of the cutter to be varied, a laterally-yielding heel-rest adapted to be forced out of its normal position by contact of the shank portion of the shoe therewith, a movable support for the said heel-rest, a jack device to engage with a shoe having its heel against the said heel-rest and exposed to the action of the cutter, and means intermediate the said jack device and the said support whereby to transmit movement to the heel-rest as the shoe is swung by the operative, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ALEXANDER MCDOWELL. Vitnesses:

CHAs. F. RANDALL, WM. A. MAcLEoD. 

